I once wrote a personal’s ad in SQL on Craigslist, back when they had that section. A DBA replied and asked if I wanted hawking. She had a Cooper’s hawk. I met her at a commercial park in a Saturday morning. She was driving a Honda CRV, the hawk was in the front passenger seat, and I hopped into the back seat. She started driving and spotted some crows. The hawk saw them as well. Wearing a “don’t kill me either your…
How a hawk learned to use traffic signals to hunt more successfully
51–60 of 153 posts
Re: How a hawk learned to use traffic signals to hunt more successfully
#52Earlier quoted context omitted.
I once threw a tennis ball straight up, just as a bird happened to be flying past, it rolled right and dodged it by a cm.
I don't really know what it's like to be a bird, of course, but I have to imagine their subjective experience of duration differs greatly from ours.
Re: How a hawk learned to use traffic signals to hunt more successfully
#53> Cooper’s hawk is on a rather short list of bird of prey species that have successfully adapted to life in cities. A city is a difficult and very dangerous habitat for any bird, but particularly for a large raptor specializing in live prey: you have to avoid windows, cars, utility wires, and countless other dangers while catching something to eat every day. Peregrine falcons adapted quite well, and they're much more…
Re: How a hawk learned to use traffic signals to hunt more successfully
#54I once wrote a personal’s ad in SQL on Craigslist, back when they had that section. A DBA replied and asked if I wanted hawking. She had a Cooper’s hawk. I met her at a commercial park in a Saturday morning. She was driving a Honda CRV, the hawk was in the front passenger seat, and I hopped into the back seat. She started driving and spotted some crows. The hawk saw them as well. Wearing a “don’t kill me either your…
And you didn't get married!?
Re: How a hawk learned to use traffic signals to hunt more successfully
#55> Cooper’s hawk is on a rather short list of bird of prey species that have successfully adapted to life in cities. A city is a difficult and very dangerous habitat for any bird, but particularly for a large raptor specializing in live prey: you have to avoid windows, cars, utility wires, and countless other dangers while catching something to eat every day. Peregrine falcons adapted quite well, and they're much more…
The other day when visited local city park (in South London) I spotted a Buzzard just chilling on the tree among pigeons. Small, but majestic nonetheless.
Re: How a hawk learned to use traffic signals to hunt more successfully
#56Still an intelligent action, only does not mean the hawk understands the signal itself.
Re: How a hawk learned to use traffic signals to hunt more successfully
#57When food is on the line, animals can figure all sorts of things out.
Re: How a hawk learned to use traffic signals to hunt more successfully
#58Re: How a hawk learned to use traffic signals to hunt more successfully
#59Earlier quoted context omitted.
The other day when visited local city park (in South London) I spotted a Buzzard just chilling on the tree among pigeons. Small, but majestic nonetheless.
Obligatory note that if you're from the US you are probably picturing a different bird than parent saw.
Re: How a hawk learned to use traffic signals to hunt more successfully
#60The point the story tries to make is that the Hawk learned traffic signals. That is not necessarily the case. It could be that the hawk just sees that the cars are blocking the sight of the prey. Still an intelligent action, only does not mean the hawk understands the signal itself.